Clashes claim one more life in Kashmir, death toll touches 40

One person has been killed as army fired on protesters trying to storm its camp in Bandipora in Kashmir, putting the toll in the violence-hit Kashmir to 40.  

The Valley was rocked by violent protests after armed forces gunned down Burhan Wani, the militant commander of the separatist outfit  Hizbul Mujahideen. About 3,160 persons, including 1,500 security force personnel, have been injured. 

To help arrest the violence that entered into its ninth day today, about 2,000 additional CRPF personnel are being rushed to the Valley.  

Official said that a total of 20 fresh companies (100 personnel in each) are being rushed to the Valley which will be in addition to 2,800 Central Reserve Police Force personnel which were sent to assist the state police last week. 

They said the additional reinforcements will be deployed to further enhance the security arrangements. 

"Some of the fresh units will exclusively render the task of road opening parties in order to secure the movement of security forces convoys," a senior official said. 

About 60 battalions (about 1,000 in personnel each) are already stationed in the state as part of counter insurgency grid. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsson session of Parliament said that political parties have spoken in one voice over the developments in Kashmir and asserted that it has sent the right message and benefitted the country. 

 "Various parties have given statements on Kashmir events which benefitted the country. This has sent a right message and I thank all the parties for the same," he said while complimenting them for speaking in "one voice", according to an official statement. 

 "We represent both the people and the parties and there is a need to keep national interests above anything else," the Prime Minister said. 

(PTI)